Master Guide Convention Patch

How exciting to think that the North American Division Master Comrades and Master Guides gathered to celebrate 76 years of leadership and growth. The dates were set for February 11- 14, 1998 the place the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, California.

How great that the celebration was to be held in my own back yard! How good is that??? Elder Norm Middag North American Division Pathfinder, Camping and Adventurer Director had been planning this gathering for many months. When Norm retired December of 1996 the torch was passed to Willie Oliver who took the helm and led in the ministry for the North American Division.

Special guests included Rose Otis then Vice President for Ministries of the North American Division. Leo Ranzolin then a Vice-President of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and a former World Youth Director was present as was General Conference Youth Director Baraka Muganda.

Danny Davis a former Director of Youth Ministries for the Allegheny East Conference and the Columbia Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventist was part of the celebration. Larry CavinessSouthern California Conference President was there as well as my friend Wayne Sheperd then Vice President of the Pacific Union Conference.

L.A. Skinner, John Hancock, Leo Ranzolin, Baraka Muganda

It was very special that a number ofthe Pathfinder Pioneers were able to attend this celebration. Our friends Laurence A. Skinner, Henry T. Bergh, and John H. Hancock attended and shared the history as they remembered it from fifty years or more before.

Talk about a walk down memory lane… before the weekend was over so many names of individuals now in our past or even laid to rest were involved in the great celebration of Master Guides.

There was wonderful music at the general meetings which began Wednesday February 11th. The Shining Singers and Praise team lead out. Southern California Conference Pathfinders did a great job of being honor color guard. The program was filled with dignitaries including: Richard Barron – General Conference Youth Director – who had opening prayer, Willie Oliver – North American Division Youth Director gave a special welcome and introduction of the platform party. There was also a welcome by Lorenzo Paytee – Southern California Conference Secretary, and Tom Mosert, Pacific Union Conference President.

A special prayer time lead by Norm Middag retired NAD Pathfinder Ministries Director and Leo Ranzolin General Conference Vice President.Rose Otis was Keynote speaker. Rose shared with us and made us proud to be a part of the North American Division and part of God’s family. This was followed by another musical selection by the Shining Singers and prayer by Baraka Muganda World Youth Director.

Following the service many of us stopped to chat with friends and make new ones. How special to be in ministry together! It was very tired individuals that finally called it quits and headed to our rooms for a good nights sleep.
Ron Stretter was the chairperson for Thursday Morning’s devotional. Yes, Ron I noticed your name was misspelled on the brochure! Sorry Friend…

Frankie Lazarus of the Ontario Conference led in the Morning Prayer time and Caron Gomes of Northeastern Conference read scripture. Our friend Danny Davis shared at the Morning Devotional. Danny with his heart for Pathfinders and for God was very inspirational.

Thursday’s seminars began at 10:30 AM. There were wonderful workshops lead by capable individual with a variety of titles. The workshops included the following speakers: Jim Nix the head of the Heritage Room at Loma Linda’s University Library shared “Church Heritage I”. Baraka Muganda, GC Youth Director, shared “Leadership with aVision”, his colleague Richard Barron also spoke on “Leadership.” Ken Veal talked about“How to be a Better Trainer”. There was also a Spanish tack lead by Joe Rivera titled “Habilidades par TrabajarenEquipo.”

Following lunch Jim Nix continued with “Church Heritage II”, Norm Middag former NAD Pathfinder, Camping and Adventurer Director spoke on “How to Motivate and Manage People”. Jasmin Hoyt’s seminar was on “Communication”, while Carl Swafford talked about “Outdoor Education II and Sabbath Activities”. Danny Davis spoke on“Attitudes and Influences in Leadership” and Moe De Leon continued the Spanish Workshop with “Desarrollo Personal”.

I could find only one fault with the seminars. I wanted to attend each one and had to choose only one for each time period. The choice was made a bit easier as I don’t understand Spanish and Jim Nix, our neighbor, has shared often and we even had tapes of his seminars, so I had only to struggled with the choice of four seminars each morning and afternoon.

Bob Wong, Southern California Pathfinder Ministries director was chairperson for the evening program titled “God’s Gift to Planet Earth”. There were prayers in a number of different languages. Once again we enjoyed great music by Noelette Leader-Hutton and the Las Sierra University Vocal Octet. Leo Ranzolin organized a World Divisions pageant, which was very colorful and interesting.

I noticed an announcement at the end of the program saying the exhibits were open 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM, except during the general sessions, so I guess anyone that knows Arnold and I know where we were a good share of the time! It was very enjoyable to visit with various individuals and talk shop. There is always another story to hear and a new way to learn of communicating ministry with youth.

James Black. Southwest Region Conference Youth Ministries Director was chairperson on Friday morning. We were blessed by the praise team. Ben Davis of the Dakota Conference Youth Ministries had opening prayer. Ben had become a friend when we all decorated Rose Parade Floats together in the early 1990’s. Lila Barton of Rocky Mountain Conference read the scripture and Larry Caviness – Southern California Conference had our morning worship. Roy Butler Bermuda Conference Pathfinder Ministries Director closed the meeting with prayer. James gave the announcements and we were off and running for another buys day of seminars.

Jim Nix taught “Church Heritage III”, Leo Ranzolin spoke of “Leadership in a Changing World”. Terry Dodge spoke on “Child, Pathfinder and Youth Evangelism”, while Carl Swafford continued with “Outdoor Education III Nature Devotionals”. Jason McCraken spoke on “Dealing with Conflict and Confrontation”, which was part of the Pathfinder Instructors Award. Joe Rivera’s topic was “MadurezEspiritual”.

Following lunch we met in the Biltmore Bowl for Discover the Power – Pathfinder Camporee Invitational Meeting. Wow August 1999 was fast approaching! Arnold and I looked at each other and knew we had a lot to do to finish some of the projects we were wanting to share at the Camporee.

At 3:PM another series of workshops were held. Jim Nix spoke on “ChurchHeritage part IV” and I know it was good. Robert Holbrook spoke on “Leadership skills – Organizational Development for Ministry”, I actually got to listen in on that seminar! Ken Veal spoke on the Master Guider track “Creativity and Resource Development”, Carl Swafford taught Outdoor Education IV, “Team Building “ . Baily Gillespie shared “Self Esteem and Faith Maturity” and Moe DeLeon’s topic was “La Disciplina”. What a blessing to have great seminars.

Friday evening we were welcomed by Allan Williamson, Southern Union Conference Youth Ministries Director. The Shining Singers sang again and David Wong Northern Asia Pacific Division Youth Ministries Director had prayer.
Willie Oliver gave a Master Guide Challenge and Terry Dodge, Michigan Conference Pathfinder Ministries Director had the Master Guide Investiture, which was not only well organized but very special.Isabelle Julien of the Quebec Conference Pathfinder Ministries had closing prayer.

Master Guide Manual, MG 25th Ann.

So another long but exciting day was in the books and though we were all tired it was a good tired! What blessings we had had and we looked forward to more blessings.

Dan Kittle Central California Conference Youth Ministries Director was the chairperson for Sabbath School. John Howard Canadian Union Conference Youth Ministries shared prayer time.

The Master’s Call Quartet had special musical selections. La Sierra Dram Ensemble led out in “Pieces of Eight.” Ron Whitehead shared a Discover the Power promotion, followed by the offering call by Claude Harris – Allegheny East Youth Ministries Director. Reg Burgess from the General Conference shared “Walk Around the World 2000”. The Sabbath School lesson was taught by Hubert Cisneros –Arizona Conference Youth Ministries Director. We enjoyed great music by the Shining Singers and Benediction was offered by J. Wilmoth James – North Caribbean Conference Youth Ministries Director. A welcome break came to stand and visit a bit before church began.

Willie Oliver was the chairperson for church. Dale Ziegele – Wisconsin Conference Youth Director had the Invocation. Willie Oliver welcomed everyone and there was a full house. Veronica Howell offered a musical selections and Tim Lale of Guide Magazine told the children’s story… well we are all children at heart! Bill Wood – Gulf States Conference Youth Ministries Director offered the pastoral Prayer and Carl Rogers Allegheny West Conference Youth Ministries gave the offertory. Noelette Leader-Hutton shared several musical selections and Baraka Muganda’s sermon title was “A Plea to Youth Leaders”. Robert Holbrook General Conference Pathfinder Ministries Director offered the Benediction.

We all enjoyed a very good Sabbath dinner and lots of visiting and even for a few some Sabbath Lay Activities – resting.

Sundown Worship included a Vespers Musical Concert led by chairperson Frances Reyes. Newton Clegborne of Northeastern Conference Youth Ministries offered Prayer followed by Artists: David Johnson, The Shining Singers and Ruth Pinheiro. Mike Edge Indiana Conference Youth Ministries Director gave the offering call and prayer. The concert continued with: Cynthia Goodloe-Palmer, Veronica Howell and Noelette Leader-Hutton. Vesper Thought was shared by E. Wayne Sheperd Vice President for the Pacific Union Conference. SaustinMfune – Eastern Africa Division Youth Ministries offered the benediction.

Henry Bergh, L.A. Skinner, John Hancock, Norm Middag, Allan Williamson) Middag closed the evening with the benediction

It was time for a bit more visiting followed at 7:00 PM with the Awards Banquet chaired by Willie Oliver who gave the welcome and Invocation. Dixie Plata – Southeastern California Conference was Mistress of Ceremonies (do I have to admit to that?!) We enjoyed a special meal provided by the Regal Biltomore Hotel as we visited. We once again had good music before and after the Master Guide Challenge by John Hancock Retired General Conference Youth Ministries Director. Willie Oliver enjoyed the special awards ceremony giving thanks to former leaders including Laurence Paulson, John Hancock and Henry Bergh, Norm Middag and a few others.

The setting was special, the seminars were well done and the meetings were well attended and worth listening to. The crowning event was the awards banquet. It was great to meet some of the Pioneers that began Pathfinders in Southern California way back when and new people too.

MG Convention program

On the back of the program (Insert picture of MG Convention program)the Master Guide Convention Committee Members were listed as follows:

James Black, Terry Bolton, Terry Dodge, Frankie Lazarus, Willie Oliver, Arnold Plata, Dixie Plata, Allan Williamson and Bob Wong.

If you missed this event I am sorry, it was wonderful! If you were bored reading the name of the individuals involved – don’t be. Many of those people are no longer with us and are resting until they are called by the life Giver. Others have moved on to other assignments and or are retired and just reading their names brings memories flooding back to many of us. How blessed I feel to call so many of these leaders friend. God is so good – I can hardly wait for that Heavenly reunion or maybe even a reunion in clouds as we travel with our friend Jesus towards our Heavenly homes.